Coupler and yoke connection



May 24, 1932- s. B. HAsELTlNE 1,859,700

. COUPLER AND YOKE CONNECTION Filed July 14, 1930 Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE STACY B. HASELTINE?, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO W. H. MINEFI, INC., F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F DELAVTARE COUPLE@ AND YOKE CONNECTION Application filed July 14,

This invention relates to improvements in coupler and yoke connections.

One object of the invention is to provide a coupler and yoke connection for railway draft riggings, providing for lateral swinging movement of the coupler shank with respect to the yoke and inward sliding movement of the coupler relative to the yoke during buff, wherein a pin or key serves as the connecting element, the same being locked against rotation with respect to the coupler shank and having relatively large bearing members cooperating with the yoke, thereb reducing wear to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coupler and yoke connection of the character indicated in the preceding paragraph, wherein the connecting element is in the form of a key or pin having heads at opposite ends thereof, which are swiveled in the guideways of the yoke and are of larger size than the shank of the pin to provide bearl ing engagement on relatively large areas to minimize wear, wherein one of the heads is detachable, and means is provided for holding the pin or key attached to the coupler and yoke and also holding the removable head attached to the pin.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in a. coupler and yoke connection of the character indicated a key member having a shank of oblong cross section extending through and fitting a slot in the yoke to hold the key against rotation and lengthwise r movement with respect to the coupler shank,

and wherein the key is provided with enlarged bearing heads of cylindrical form at opposite ends, swiveled in guide slots in the yoke, one of said heads being readily removable and fixed against rotation with respect to the key proper and wherein means in the form of a supporting element for the key is secured to the yoke and holds the key attached to the yoke and also prevents acci.-

i dental detachment of the lremovable head thereof.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings, forming a part of this 1930. Serial No. 467,796.

specification, Figure 1 is ahorizontal,longitu dinal sectional view through a portion of the .underframe structure of a car, illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 2--2 of Figure 1, illustrating the details of my improved yoke and coupler connection` Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 2. And Figures l and 5 are detailed perspective views of the connecting key member and the detachable head thereof, respectively.

In said drawings, --10 indicate the usual channel-shaped center or draft sills of a railway car underframe, having front stop lugs l1-11Vsecured to the inner sides thereof. As will be understood, the sills rearwardly of the stop lugs 11*11 are provided with the usual rear set of stop lugs also. The striking casting of the railway draft rigging is indicated by 12 and is secured'to the outer ends of the sills 10. The striking casting has the usual carry iron member 13 associated therewith, having a wear plate 14E mounted thereon. As clearly shown in Figure l, the draft sills 10 and the stop lug castings 11 are provided with the usual alined key receiving slots 15-15, but these slots are not used in connection with my improvements. The railway draft rigging includes the usual shock absorbing mechanism 16, a cooperating front follower 17 and the usual rear follower, not shown.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a yoke member A, a coupler B of standard size, and a connecting element C having a detachable head member I) at the upper end thereof.

The yoke member A has the usual loop portion encircling the front and rear followersv and the shock absorbing mechanism, the forward end only of the yoke being illustrated in the drawings. rIhe yoke comprises the usual top and bottom arms 18-18, which are connected by vertical side walls 19-19. As shown in Figure 1, the side walls have the forward portions thereof flared outwardly, as indicated at 20-20, to permit of lateral swinging movement of the coupler B. The top and bottom arms of the yoke are cgi interiorly slotted, as indicated at 2l-2l, to provide guideways extending lengthwise of the yoke. The forward end walls of the` slots, which are indicated by 22-22, are curved or rounded to provide swiveling surfaces. The top arm 18 of the yoke is preferably provided with a small opening 23 communicating with the slot 21 thereof. The bottom wall 18 of the yoke is also provided with an opening 24 therethrough, communicating with the slot 21 at the bottom of the yoke. The opening 24 is ot greater size than the opening 23 and as hereinafter more fully pointed out is of such a size as to permit insertion ot the locking element C. Adjacent the opening 24 the yoke is provided with a pair 01": depending lugs 25-25, which are located at diain'etrically opposite sides of the opening and serve as part of the retaining means for the connecting element C.

rthe coupler B, as hereinbe'tore pointed out, is of standard size and has a horizontally disposed slot 26 extending therethrough and adapted to accommodate the usual coupler key, which is adapted to cooperate with a yoke member and the slots --15 of the draft sills. In the present instance I do not make use of the horizontal key and the slot 26 of the coupler shank, but preferably prov vide this construction so that the coupler is adapted for use in connection with the usual coupler key for connecting the yoke and coupler.

The coupler shank is also provided with a `vertically disposed slot 27 intersecting the slot 26 and extending lengthwise of the shank and adapted to receive th-e connecting element C.

My improved connecting element C comprises a shank portion 28 having` a iined cylindrical head 29 at the bottom end thereof. At the upper end, the sha-nk is provided with a reduced projecting portion 30 of oblong cross section, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4. The shank portion 28 oi the connecting element C is preferably of oblong cross section also and of such a size as to closely fit the vertical slot 27 ot the coupler shank B. As will be evident, when the connecting element C is assembled with the coupler shank and yoke.l the shank 28 is disposed within the slot 27 and the head member 29 is engaged within the lower slot or guideway 21 of the yoke. The head 29 is preferably of such a diameter as to form a nea-t sliding tit within the slot and cooperate with the curved front end Wall 22 of said slot in the manner of a pivot element.

The detachable head D ot the pin is secured to the upper end thereof, the head being of cylindrical cross section and corresponding in size to the head 29. As most clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5, the head D is provided with an opening 31 corresponding in size and shape to the projection 80 of the shank of the connecting element and adapted to be engaged over the same. At the bottom, the head D is diametrically slotted, as indicated at 32, the slot being oi such a width as to engage over and embrace the upper extremity of the shank 28 proper of the connecting element. The head D cooperates with the slot 21 of the upper wall ot' the yoke in a manner similar to the bottom head 29 of t-he connecting element. As will be clear upon reference to Figure 2, the head D is of such a size that it will not pass through the opening 28 at the top of the yoke. To support and hold the connecting element assembled with the yoke and coupler shank, l provide a filler member 33, which is of substantially disc-like form, iitted within the opening 24 at the bottom of the yoke. The vfiller member is provided with a pair of depending lugs S34- 34, which are at diametrically opposite sides thereof and are adapted to aline with the lugs -25 of the yoke. The lugs 25 and 34 are provided with alined openings through which a retaining bolt 35 is engaged to support the filler element. As most clearly shown in Figure 2. the upper 'face of the filler element is flush with the bottom wall ot the guideway 21, whereby the lower end of the pin is supported for sliding movement in alinement with said bottom wall.

In attaching the coupler shank to the yoke, the detachable head member D of the connecting element or key is iirst placed within the guideway21 at the top of the yoke. lWhile the head D is held in position, the coupler sha-nk is inserted between the top and bottom walls of the yoke and the vertical slot thereof brought into alinement with the opening 24 at the bottom of the yoke. As will be evident, the head D may be held in postion during this assembling operation by engaging the same through the opening 23 at the top of the yoke. After the parts have been thus far assembled, the connecting element C 7 is inserted through the bottom opening 24 of the yoke, the shank 28 of the connecting element being engaged within the vertical slot 27 of the coupler shank and the projection at the upper end of the connecting element being engaged within the opening 31 of the detachable head D. The shank of the connecting element is of such a length that the upper end portion thereof protrudes slightly above the top face of the coupler n thereon are of elongated cross section and lit within the slot 32 and the opening 3l of the head D, the head D is locked against rotation with respect to the connecting element proper. In disconnecting the coupler and yoke, the supporting and retaining element 33 is detached, thus permtting the connecting element C to drop through theopening and disengage the detachable head D. rIhe coupler shank may then freely be withdrawn from the yoke and the detachable head removed.

Although I have hereinbefore described the head D as supported during the assembling operation by providing access through the opening 23 at the top of the yoke, the head may be temporarily supported in other ways during the assembling operation, as for example, a temporary retaining elip may be provided with a plate-like supporting arm which is disposed between the upper side of the coupler shank and the top wall of the yoke and is forked at the inner end to span the shank portion of the connecting element. Such a clip may be of U-shape form and have the upper arm thereof engaged over the top wall of the yoke. After the parts have been assembled, the clip is removed.

From the preceding description taken n connection with the drawings, it will be evident'that I have provided an exceedingly simple and eliicient coi-meeting means for the coupler shank and yoke members of a railway draft rigging, providing for relative 1 sliding movement of the yoke and conpler fl* ing a boiling action and also allowing s ycling movement between these parts. By the enlarged cylindrical bearing head provided at the top and bottom ends of the connecting element, the desired amount of strength provided wlrle at the saine time presenting large bearing elements, thus minimizing wear and adding to the life of the connecting means. rIhe oblong eross sectional form of shank of the connecting element possesses the strength of the usual connecting key and further prevents relative rotation of the connecting element and coupler shankfthus relieving these parts of wear. The key-l'ke form of shank of the connecting element also possesses a further dvantage in that the vertical slot of the coupler shank may be made relatively narrow so as to leave relatively thick portions at opposite sides of the slotted portion ofthe same, thus leaving, suiiicient metal to provide the 'required strength.

In the operation of my improved railway draft rigging, upon a draft or pulling act'on being applied to the coupler, the yoke will be pulled outwardly by the connecting elen'ient C- through the heads thereof engaging the front end walls of. the guideways 21-21 at the top and bottom of the yoke. Swiveling movement of the coupler is permitted by the pivotal movement of the heads of the connecting element on the rounded front end walls of said slots. Then an inward or buiing action is applied to the coupler B, the yoke may remain stationary while the connecting clement is guided rearwardly in the slots 2li-2i of the same, the coupler member being thus movable inwardly with respect to the yoke to compress the shock absorbing mechanism by direct engagement of the coupler butt w'th the front follower of the railway draft rigging.

l have herein shown and. described what I new consi der the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a. railway draft rigginf ways, the head at the top end of .ement and i(`l Y being detachable, said yoke having an opening` through which said elementis ins'rtible to engage the same with the coupler shank; and means for closing said last named opening and supporting the bottom head of said element to hold the parts assembled.

2. In a railway draft the e combination with a coupler having the shank thereof vertically slotted; of a yoke having vertically alined guideways therein extending length 7ise thereof, said guideways being of greater width than said slot and hav' rounded front end walls; connecting key extending through said slot of the coupler shank, said key having a shank corresponding in cross section to said slot and fitting the same to lock said key against rotation in the slot and also look the key to the coupler shank for movement therewith, said key having top and bottom rounded bearing heads of a diameter corresponding to the width of said guideways, said heads engaging with said alined gnideways, one of said heads being detachabley and having shouldered engagement with said key proper to lock the same. thereto against relative rotation, said yoke having an opening therein through which the key may be entered in assembling the same with the yoke and coupler; and means for closing said opening to retain said key assembled with the yoke and coupler shank.

3. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with a. coupler having at longitudinelly extending vertical slot in the shank thereof; of a. yoke member having spaced top and bottom Walls adapted to receive the coupler shank there-between, seid Wells having opposed inner guideways of greater Width than Said Slot7 said guideways being vertically alined and having curved front end Walls; e, connecting element having e shank portion provided With 1y fixed heed at the bottom end and a projection at the upper end thereof, said Shank extending through the slot of the Coupler shank and corresponding in size to said slot to closely fit the Seme; a hearing head attached to the upper end of the shank of the Connecting element, seid head having an openingreceiving the projection of said shank of the connecting element, seid projeetion and opening being of interitting cross Section to lock the head to the connecting element against rotation, said top and bottom heads being of a diameter to lit seid guideways and being engaged Within seid verticaliy elined gnideways, seid top head `being held assembled With smid Connecting element by engagement with the top of the corresponding guideway, the bottom wall ot' Said yoke having an opening communicating with the guidewey thereof through which the connecting element may be entered; and means attached to the yoke and extending into said opening and engaging the bottom of the connecting element for Supporting the sume und holding the parte assembled.

ln Witness that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto Subscribed my name this 10th davy of July, 1930.

STACY B. HASELTNE. 

